Officials says 32 Boardwalk Businesses Burned

SEASIDE PARK, N.J. (AP) — An official from the Jersey shore town where a raging boardwalk fire has been burning out of control says the blaze has taken out virtually all of the town’s boardwalk businesses.

Seaside Park Councilwoman Nancy Koury tells The Associated Press the Thursday fire took out about 32 businesses. She says no serious injuries have been reported.

Koury says the fire began in a frozen custard stand on the Seaside Park section of the boardwalk, and quickly spread north into neighboring Seaside Heights.

Firefighters are still trying to get the raging fire under control as flames leap into the sky and thick plumes of smoke blanket the beachfront.

The fire burned much of the boardwalk that was just rebuilt in time for Memorial Day after being wrecked by Superstorm Sandy.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE, EARLIER STORY FOLLOWS:

SEASIDE PARK, N.J. (AP) — A raging fire that apparently started in an ice cream shop has spread several blocks down a New Jersey shore boardwalk that was damaged in Superstorm Sandy and was being repaired.

Television footage showed flames and thick black smoke billowing from a long stretch of the boardwalk Thursday in Seaside Park.

Seaside Heights Police Chief Thomas Boyd said tar roofs and stiff winds were fanning the flames. He said a section of boardwalk was being removed to create a fire line to keep the blaze from spreading.

He said the fire created embers the size of a fist.

The fire is believed to have started in a Kohr’s custard shop.

Authorities say several firefighters and residents were being treated for smoke inhalation. No other injuries were reported.

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